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(N0 Modei.) s Sheets-Sheet 1.

F. WILOOMB. FEEDING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES. No. 597,794.Patented Jam. 26, 1898.

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I. WILOOMB. FEEDING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

No. 597,794. Patented Jan. 25', 1898.

RA F WP nw I 4 m: ucnms PE'FERS co. PHOTOUTHO msnmm'on, n. c.

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F. WILGOMB.

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES. No. 597,794. Patented Jan.25,1898.

UNITED STATES PATENT ERANK WILCOMB, OF PAWTUCKET,RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOROF ONE- HALF TO AMSDEN H. SMITH AND GEORGE H. LUMB, OF SAME PLACE.

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 597,794, dated January25, 1898.

Application filed July 24, 1895. Serial No. 557,022. (No model.) 7

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK. NILGOMB, a citizen of the United States,residing at Pawtucket, in the county of Providence and State of RhodeIsland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in FeedingMechanism for Knitting-Machines, of which the following is aspecification, reference being bad therein to the accompanying.drawings.

My invention relates to an improved feeding mechanism forknitting-machines designed to produce a reinforced knitted fabric.

I aim to produce a reinforced fabric in which the ends of thesplicing-threads will project on the inner side of the fabric asufiicient distance to insure the loose ends being se-' curely bound bythe stitches; further, to produce 'a fabricin which the reinforced partwill bear a definite predetermined relation or proportionv to the restof the fabric and the line of demarcation between the plain and thereinforced par-twill be clearly defined and regular, and also to producea fabric in which the reinforcing-thread will appear regularly on eitherthe face or inner side, as desired, presenting what is known as platedwork and giving to the fabric a highly-finished appearance without anycloudy or mottled eifect whatever.

My invention is applied to a circular scamless-stockin g machine forknitting plain work; and the operation of my invention includes holdingthe loose ends of the reinforcingthread on the inner side of the row ofneedles well down to the top of the needle-cylinder, passing the threadfrom this point out between the needles and feeding the same theretofrom the outer side while the loose, end is held within the needle-row,releasingv the needle-row and holding the thread in proper position tobe fed to the needles with the main thread, said carrier having operating means to return it with the thread to the inner side of the fabricafter the course of reinforcing has been knit and to direct it to asectional View through a portion of an ordinary circular-knittingmachine, the mechanism for carrying out my invention being shown partlyin section and partly in side elevation. Fig. 2 is a detail side viewshowing the cutting mechanism and clamp. Fig. 2 shows the cam-surfaces.Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view. Figs. 4 and 5 show details. Figs. 6 and7 show the fabric.

In the drawings, 1 is the needle-cylinder, 2 the cam-ring, and 3 thelatch-needles, all of ordinary form. The main yarn is fed through an eye4 on the lever 5, hereinafter described, and an eye 6, secured to thebox '7, attached to the main cam-ring 2 by the ears 9 and screws 10,said box carrying all the working parts of my improvements, which arethus adapted for ready attachment to any ordinary machine. From the eye6 the yarn is fed to the needles in the ordinary manner past an ordinarymain guide 66. (Shown in Figs. 1 and 2.) The splicing-thread 11 is fedfrom the bobbin through a carrier-lever 12, pivoted within the box 7 andoperated through mechanism hereinafter described. The carrierlever isforked, having arms 13 14:, the one marked 13 having the opening 15 andgroove 16 for the splicing-thread and the thread-eye 17 at its extremityto deliver the thread to the needles. This carrier-lever stands ininclined position when the reinforcing-thread is idle and not being fedto the needles, so that said thread will he held within the ricedle-row.The loose end of the splicing-thread when the carrier is in thisposition out of work is held in a holder or clamp consisting ofaspring-plate 18, hearing upwardly against an extension or foot piece 19of a bracket 20, formed with or secured to the boxing 7 This bracket hasan open centerin which the guide and its carrier oscillate. The twoparts of the bracket 20, Fig. 3, are held together by the screw 38. Thefoot-piece 19 is secured to this bracket, Figs. 1 and 2, and the samescrew which holds the foot-piece to the bracket also serves to hold thespring-plate 18 in place. The foot-piece 19 carries at its end thestationary cutter 35, which is held by a screw on the upper sidethereof. splicing-thread is to be thrown into action, a divided cam-ring21, pivoted to the base at 22, is swung over to rest on the base andsurround the needle cam-ring, the said divided cam-ring engaging pins 23on the base to center it'and hold it in accurate position. Fhis ringoperates the splicing mechanism through a bar 24, sliding in the box 7and having a roller 24 to engage the upper camsurface of the cam-ring21, a link 25 connecting the bar with a segment-lever 26, pivoted at 27in the box, the segment of which meshes with a pinion 28 on an axis 29,which has fixed thereto an eccentric disk 30, the strap 31 of whichforms the upper end of the swinging carrier-lever for thesplicing-thread. When the cam-roller 24 rides up the cam-surface 21 ofthe cam-ring, the carrier-lever is moved from its position shown on theinside of the needle-row, carrying the thread-eye up over the needlehookand then down on the outer side of the needle-row to hold the splicingthread in a definite and predeterminedrelation to the main yarn, and themovement may be so adjusted that the splicing-thread will lie againstthe needle either above or below the main thread. This upward, outward,and downward movement of the carrier is effected from the cam 21, asbefore stated,

moving the slide-bar, which actuates the eccentric through theconnections, and this eccentric gives to the swinging lever its peculiarmovement described, for which purpose the carrier-lever must have asliding connection at. its pivoted point with the box. As the action ofthe carrier-lever is positive and is derived from the cam 21, thethread-eye will guide the thread positively to the needles and to thesame needle each time, thus the reinforced part of the fabric will havea distinct and regular line of division between it and the plain part,and, further, as the splicingthread is fed in a positive and definiterelation to the main yarn the face of the fabric will have a perfectlysmooth and even appearance and present the effect known as plated work.In order to better feed the splicing-thread to the needles, the cam-ring21 has a depression 21 immediately following the rise 21', so that thethread-eye after being fully depressed by the rise 21 will be raisedslightly by the depression. The pivot pin of the carrier-lever 12 ismounted in the box 7 and has a boss at its middle portion through whichthe carrier-lever slides. The

When the.

loose end of the splicing-thread during the outward and downwardmovement of the carrier is still held by the clamp before de scribed,and it is retained by the clamp until the thread-eye has carried thethread out between the needles and down below their hooks and hascarried the thread around the needlerow a short distance by thecontinued movement of the cam-ring with the splicing mechanism carriedthereby, and in this continued movement the needle, across which thesplicing-thread has first been laid, has drawn down to catch thesplicing-thread and has cast off its old loop. The carrier-forkcompletes its downward movement when said needle takes the thread, andthe second prong of the forked carrier therefor descends upon theprojection 31 of the clamp-plate, thus releasing the loose end of thethread, which will now remain extending loosely on the inside of thefabric. As the guiding-eye is slightly in advance of the point at whichthe end of the splicing-thread is held by the clamp, said eye will, asstated, lay the yarn along the outside of several of the needles beforethe clamp will reach such a point in relation to the needle firstreceiving the thread as to cause the end of the thread extending betweenthis needle and the clamp to be dragged; pulled, or broken. Thesplicing-thread is caught by the first needle at a considerable distancefrom its loose end, and there is no liability of the loose end of thethreads pulling through the stitch which has caught it into the fabric.The final clownward movement of the pronged carrier to release the clamptakes place when the camroller of the slide-bar reaches the rise 21,following the depression 21 in the cam-rin g. The revolution of thecam-ringwith the splicing mechanism feeds the needles in successionuntil the point 21 of the cam-ring is reached, where there is an abruptshoulder allowing the slide-bar, under the action of the spring 32 andlever 33, pivoted thereto and to the box, to fall quickly, thusreturning the forked carrier to the inside of the needlerow andwithdrawing the reinforcing-thread from the feeding-point. This actionalways takes place at precisely the same point and at the same needle inthe row, sothat the line of ending of the reinforce is regular and welldefined, as indicated in Figs. 6 and 7. In this return movement thesplicing-thread is laid across the upper face of the springclamping-plate, and in the continued movement of the needle cam-ringwith the splicing mechanism this splicing-thread,extending between thethread-eye and the needles, is caught between the spring clamping-plateand the foot or extension of the bracket before described, and to insurethis action the said foot has a spur 34 curved upwardly on its outerside to present a flaring crevice, into Between the clamping means andthe needles a cutting device is arranged, consisting of a stationaryblade and a movable blade 36 on a bell-crank lever 23?, pivoted at 38 onthe bracket and operated through a link 39 from the lever 5, pivoted tothe outside of the boxing and operated from the slide bar through thelever 33 before described, which has a pin extending through a slot inthe boxing and into a fork on the lever 5. The spring 82, beforementioned, is attached to the extension 33 of the lever33 and to theoutside of the boxing. This movable blade of the cutting mechanism isclosed while the cam-roller is on the lower part of the cam-ring21immediately following the abrupt shoulder, but it is opened or movedaway from the stationary blade at the rise d2 of the cam-ring, and thisis so located that when the cutter is opened the continued rotation ofthe camring and splicing mechanism will lay the splicing thread betweenthe cutters, and when the cam-roller falls off of the cam-ring at 43 thecutters, coming quickly together, will sever the splicing-thread at apoint between the needles and the clamp, so that the loose end of thesplicing-thread will be held as before by the clamp and on the innerside of the needle-row ready for the next action, which takes place whenthe roller reaches the front end of the cam-ring 21 again.

It will be seen that the same cam-ring and same slide bar are used tooperate both the splicing-thread carrier and also the cutters. When thecutters are operated, a movement of the thread-carrier takes place, butthis is only slight and is without effect. When the cam-roller dropsfrom the cam-ring, all the parts are returned to position inside theneedle-row by the spring 32. The cam-ring 21 may be thrown out ofposition when the splicin g mechanism is to be out of work by simplytilting'it back and away from the machine. This ring may be replaced byother rings having differently-disposed cam-surfaces to secure differentreinforcing portions of fabric.

The upper part of the box 7 is pivotally connected with the lower partat a:, so that it may be tilted back and away from the machine when thesplicer is out of action,and when in action the upper partof the box isheld by a latch-lever 45, which is pivoted to a lug 46 of a standard 47,and this lever carries the bobbin, so that this also may be tilted toone side. attached to or detached from any ordinary machine. The pivotacdoes not go through from side to side of the box, but only through theadjacent walls of the upper and lower parts of the box. This leaves theinterior of the box at the joint free for the verticallymovingoperating-bar. The pivot of this bar with the link 25 is arranged toaxially aline with the pivots a: when the splicer is out of work, sothat the upper part, carrying the link andctl other operating parts, maybe swung am e.

The whole device may be readily By using a lever 12 with a longer arm13,

having'the. guide-eye, to feed the splicing thread at a point below themain yarn the fabric will have a plated appearance on its face, and thisthread being in this instance of superior quality will add greatly tothe high finish of the fabric. On the other hand, by having a lever witha shorter arm to cause the thread-eye to lower only sufficient to feedthe splicing-thread at a point above the main yarn the splicing-threadwill appear mostly on the inner face of the fabric, and this thread maybe of inferior quality, and in both instances the reinforced portionwill present a regular surface free from cloudy or mottled effects, thisbeing due to the fact that the feed is positive and to a definite pointand is not dependent on the drag of the main yarn on thesplicing-thread, which has the effect of twisting and feeding thethreads irregularly and also of wearing away the splicing-thread andmaking a regular or well-defined line of demarcation between the splicedportion and main part of the fabric impossible of attainment.

I am aware that it has been suggested to feed the splicing-thread fromthe outside of the needle-row by having the same in contact with themain yarn and depending on the drag of the main yarn to carry thesplicingthread into the fabric; but this arrangement is open to the mostserious objections, all of which are overcome by the method and machineabove described.

When it is desired to give the plated effect to the inside of thefabric, the arm carrying the thread-eye for the splicing-threads is notquite so long, and the thread is thus fed to the needles in aplanehigher than the main yarn.

The construction of the forked carrier allows needles to be raised abovethe knittingcams when narrowing and widening for seamless-stocking work.

The swinging bobbin-support and the pivoting of the splicing mechanismpermit the cylinder and needles to be removed.

It is important that the clamping device shall hold the end ofsplicing-thread until it is caught into the fabric, else the end wouldpull through the needles and drag along without being caught by theneedles. The thread-eye goes to the lowest point first to insure layingthe thread low enough to be caught by the needles, then lifts by reasonof the depression 21 of the cam-ring to remove the pressure.

from the clamp, which will hold the end of the thread until enough yarnis pulled into the fabric to leave a long end on the inside of thefabric. This action is especially desirable in machines where theneedles in retractin g have a dwell. I am also aware that it has beensuggested to feed a splicing-thread part way around the fabric and then,carrying the thread across the tube or fabric, introducing it again atthat point, leaving the splicing-threads extending frpm side to side ofthe fabric. cut away by hand with shears. The bobbin of splicing-yarn isshown in Fig. 1 as supported on the lever 45. The splicing-thread guidecarries the splicing-thread inside of the needle-row and below ahorizontal plane passing through the needle-hooks.

It will be seen that the boxing 7 is hollow and is composed of sideplates connected by walls at front and rear, and the parts forming thebox may be held together by any suitable means, such as the screws shownin Fig. 2.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a knitting-machine, the needles withoperating mechanism, and means for feeding the yarn thereto, and athread eye or guide for the splicing-thread arranged to travelsubstantially in the arc of a circle from a plane below the needle-hookinside the needle-row, over the needle-hooks, and downward in front ofthe needle-row to a plane below the needle-hooks, to feed thesplicing-thread to the needles positively and independently of the mainthread and in a predetermined relation thereto and means for operatingthe threadeye, substantially as described.

2. In combination, the needles with operating means and with a main-yarnfeed, a thread eye or guide for the splicing-thread, a carrier thereforwith means for operating the same transversely of the needle-row andfrom one side of the needles to the other and means for hold-ing thethread on the inner side of the needles below the plane of theneedlehooks, said guide carrying the thread to a point below the planeof the needle-row on the outside thereof substantially as described.

3. In combination, the needles with operating means and with a main-yarnfeed, a thread eye or guide for the splicing-thread, a carrier thereforwith means for operating the same transversely of the needles from oneside to the other, means for holding the splicing-thread on the insideof the needle-row and a cutting device arranged inside of the needle-rowbelow the plane of the needlehooks to cut the splicing-thread,substantially as described.

4. In combination in a knitting-machine, the needles with operatingmeans, a mainyarn feed, a guide for the splicing-thread, means formoving the same over the needles, from side to side and for giving theguide a vertical movement in relationto the needles and holding meansfor the splicing-thread on the inside of the needle-row below the planeof the needle-hooks.

5. In combination in a knitting-machine, the needles with operatingmeans, a mainyarn feed, a splicing-yarn guide with means for moving thesame across the needle-row from side to side substantially in the arc ofa circle, a clamp or holding means for the splicing-thread below theplane of needlehooks andmeans for operating the clamp to open the same,substantially as described.

These threads are afterward 6. In combination in a knitting-machine, theneedles with operating mechanism, the main-yarn guide, a splicing-threadguide, with carrier for moving the same across the needle-row from sideto side, means for oper ating the carrier, the clamp or holder on theinside of the needle-row for the splicingthread, and means for operatingthe clamp moving with the thread-carrier and carried by theguide-carrier to open the clamp as the guide places the splicing-threadin position, substantially as described.

7. In combination in a knitting-machine, the needles with operatingmeans, the splicing-thread guide with means for operating the sameacross the needle-row, the clamp on the inside of the needle-row for thesplicingthread and the arm for operating the clamp, said arm with thethread-guide forminga fork and the lever carrying the same,substantially as described.

8. In combination in a knitting-machine, the needles with operatingmeans, the mainyarn guide, the splicing-thread guide with means foroperating the same across the needle-row and arranged to withdraw thethread to the inside of the needle row below the plane oftheneedle-hooks and the clamp arranged to receive the thread when theguide retracts inwardly, said clamp being also below the plane of theneedle-row, substantially as described.

9. In combination in a knitting-machine, the needles with operatingmechanism, the main-yarn guide arranged permanently on one side of theneedle-row, a splicing-thread guide with operating means for moving thesame from one side of the needle-row to the other, a clamp to hold thethread on the inside of the needles, and a cutting device between theclamp and the needles with means for operating the same, substantiallyas described.

lO. In combination, the needles with operating mechanism, the main-yarnguide, the splicing-thread guide, with means for operating it over theneedle-hooks substantially in the arc of a circle, the clamp-plate andan arm connected to and moving vertically with the thread-guide tooperate the clamp, substantially as described.

11. In combination, the needles, the mainyarn guide, the splicing-threadguide, the carrier therefor comprising the pivoted lever with the strap,and the eccentric with means for operating the same to operate thecarrier transversely and vertically of the needle-row, substantially asdescribed.

12. In combination, the needles, the mainyarn guide, the swingingcarrier having the splicing-thread guide, the eccentric for operatingthe same and means for operating the eccentric comprising the pinion,the rack-segment, the cam-ring and the slide-bar with a connection fromthe slide-bar to the segment, substantially as described.

13. In combination, the needles with their cam-ring, splicing mechanismincluding the swinging guide for the splicing-thread with a carrier forsaid guide and cutting mechanism for said thread, the cam-ring, theoperating connections between the same and the said carrier and cuttingmechanism, and a clamp for the splicing-thread and means on the carrierfor operating the clamp, substantially as described.

14. In combination, the needles with their cam-ring, splicing mechanismincluding the swinging splicing-thread carrier, a clamp and cutters,said clamp being arranged to be operated by the swinging carrier, acam-ring and connections therefrom to the splicing mechanism includingthe sliding bar, substantially as described.

15. In combination, the needles with their cam-ring, the main-yarnguide, and splicing mechanism extending above and Within the verticalplane of the needles and carried by a pivoted box, said box beingadapted to contain the actuating connections of the splicing mechanismwith means for holding the box in position, said box being arranged toswing laterally from the cylinder to remove the splicing mechanism fromover the cylinder.

16. In combination, the needles, the means for operating the same,splicing mechanism, the pivoted boX therefor, the latch-lever forholding the box in position, the bobbin-stand on the lever, said leverbeing pivoted, substantially as described.

17. In combination a needle-cylinder, its needles and a cam-cylinder,splicing mechanism comprising a box for carrying the same and having apivoted portion adapted to swing laterally from the cam-cylinder anddevices for holding said pivoted portion in position, said devices andsaid box being mounted upon opposite sides of the cam-cylinder, wherebythe same may be swung away from the machine to permit the removal of theneedle cylinder.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK NILGOMB.

Witnesses:

RALPH A. WILBUR, Lonrs H. WILBUR.

